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Classic Weapons of World War II

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Small arms

Walther P38 (Germany)

Length 21.9cm / 8.58in
Weight 960g / 2.12lb
Muzzle velocity 350m / 1,150ft per second
Cartridge 9mm Parabellum
Magazine 8 rounds

The P38 came about as a replacement for the P-08 Luger. Demands for quick and relatively cheaper production found the Walther arms company gaining the manufacturing contract in 1938. In a similar pattern to the MP40 sub-machine gun, the P38 was made with easy-to-manufacture, pressed-steel parts and even plastics. The result was a weapon that was relatively cheap to make (compared to the P-08 Luger), yet it was also of an exceptional quality for wartime manufacture.

The P38 was continually highly rated by its users, even though some of its refinements were lost as the war progressed. Wartime use never completely sidelined the Luger, but the P38 remained a desirable weapon, and it is still manufactured today.

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